For what it’s worth, rookie Stefon Diggs was running with the first-team offense in the three-receiver set during the open part of practice this morning. But we should also note that the media only gets to see the first few minutes of practice. Probably because we’d report things like this.

Near the end of the open part of practice, Diggs was lined up with Mike Wallace and Jarius Wright. They ran routes near the goal line with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback.

For those keeping track, Diggs ran with the starters on Wednesday, ran behind Charles Johnson on Thursday and was back with the starters on Friday. Whether or not he plays starter's snaps in Week 7, only OC Norv Turner knows. We feel comfortable ranking Diggs as a WR4 with upside, but owners counting on him this week should be aware of his floor. It's hard to believe that the Vikings would send him back to the bench after his quality play in the last two games, but stranger things have happened.

Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling:

The Vikings have completed 13 passes to rookie receiver Stefon Diggs, who’s posted 216 yards in his first two games of NFL action, but with Charles Johnson looking likely to return this week from a rib injury, Diggs might not see the same number of opportunities on Sunday in Detroit he’s enjoyed the past two weeks. Offensive coordinator Norv Turner said Thursday “we’re comfortable with all six of our receivers,” and told reporters to slow down on praising the rookie. Johnson appeared to be working ahead of Diggs in the Vikings’ three-receiver set during practice this week. Considering the Vikings haven’t put four receivers on the field at the same time this season, Diggs’ targets might not be as frequent Sunday.

This somewhat conflicts with an earlier report that Diggs was getting first team reps, but if he's rotating in behind Johnson then both reports could be technically true. Owners using Diggs this week should be aware that he may see a reduction in playing time, however illogical it may be.

Vikings rookie wide receiver Stefon Diggs got his first career start last weekend against Kansas City. He might not be leaving the lineup anytime soon.

Diggs said Thursday he is getting work with the first team this week in practice. Diggs, though, said he has yet to be told he definitely will start Sunday at Detroit.

Charles Johnson has returned to practice this week and plans to play against the Lions. However, it’s expected Diggs will end up getting the starting nod Sunday.

“I’ve got an idea,’’ Zimmer said Thursday. “There’s no sense in telling everybody.’’

Johnson may return, but it appears that he has lost his job to Diggs, who has 13-216 in the last two games. Johnson has just six catches for 46 yards through three weeks, but was injured early in Week 3.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Monday the starting receiver job opposite Mike Wallace will be won or lost based on performance. That could be bad news for Charles Johnson.

Johnson started Minnesota's first three games alongside Wallace and caught just six passes for 46 yards. He has missed the past two games because of a rib injury and watched while rookie Stefon Diggs caught 13 passes for 216 yards.

Diggs got the start in Sunday's 16-10 win over Kansas City at TCF Bank Stadium and hauled in seven catches for 129 yards. With Johnson close to returning, Zimmer wouldn't commit Monday to a starter moving forward.

"You don't lose your starting job because of injury, but you lose your starting job because of performance," Zimmer said. "But, no, I have not decided that yet."

Johnson was a pleasant surprise during the second half of last season, earning a starting job after being plucked off the Cleveland Browns' practice squad but hasn't looked like the same player this year.

Charles Johnson isn't one of the three Vikings-drafted receivers on the roster, nor is he the prized offseason acquisition.

But since Johnson was plucked off the Cleveland Browns' practice squad nearly a year ago, he's been one of Teddy Bridgewater's favorite targets in a receiver room that has been recently bolstered with developing young talent, like fifth-round pick Stefon Diggs, and a new face in Mike Wallace.

Johnson led the team with 40 receiving yards on four catches, including a 10-yard touchdown in the second quarter of the Vikings' 20-12 preseason win over the Oakland Raiders on Saturday night.

"Charles continues to make plays," coach Mike Zimmer said. "Catches the ball, runs good routes. The touchdown he caught, I thought the guy was grabbing the heck out of him the whole way."

After the Vikings jettisoned Jerome Simpson last fall, Johnson joined the Vikings after spending the 2013 season rehabbing a torn ACL under then-Browns offensive coordinator Norv Turner. Less than two months later, Johnson became the Vikings' starting split end over 29th-overall pick Cordarrelle Patterson and turned 25 catches into 415 yards as Bridgewater's go-to target in the rookie quarterback's best stretch of play in December, the story added. We see potential for Johnson and think he could at least put up low-end WR3 numbers, like he did from Week 11 on last year when he finished as WR31 in that span. We rank him 39th on our WR list, and he's getting some mid-round draft attention.